A pianist, composer, pedagogue, musical director, and music writer, Abram Chasins was an active performer throughout his career. He gave many solo recitals, concerts with leading orchestras, and piano duets with his wife, Constance Keene, throughout the United States. Chasins also was a lecturer at the Curtis Institute of Music, Musician-in-Residence at the University of Southern California, and an active adjudicator. In addition, Chasins composed many pieces, including two piano concertos and numerous piano transcriptions. Chasins also was a musical director for radio stations NBC and WQXR and wrote numerous books, including one on "Speaking of Pianists". The collection consists of 28.00 Linear Feet of concert programs, reviews, correspondence, photographs, advertisements, articles, published and unpublished scores, recordings, scrapbooks, photographs, artwork, and other miscellaneous documents related to Chasins career as a performer, author, musical director, composer, and lecturer, and his relationships with his close colleagues, including Josef Hofmann, Hendrick Wilhelm Van Loon, and his wife, Constance Keene.

Important Information for Users of the Collection

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred citation:

Abram Chasins Collection, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.

Because of the brittle nature of the press books, they were microfilmed by the University of Maryland. This microfilm (1 reel) is included in Box 16, Performance
File. Users will generally be required to use the films to avoid further deterioration of the scrapbooks.

Status:

This collection is PROCESSED.

Historical Note

Summary: Abram Chasins was born in New York City. He taught at the Curtis Institute (1926-1935) and appeared in solo recitals and with leading orchestras everywhere (1935-1946). He made his professional debut playing the solo part in his own Piano Concerto No. 1 in F minor (1928) with the Philadelphia Orchestra and became the first American composer of the younger generation to be performed by Arturo Toscanini. Chasins often played and recorded duo-piano works with his wife, the pianist Constance Keene. When Mr. Chasins retired from concertizing (1946), he became the musical director of WQXR, the radio network of The New York Times. Chasins also published several books and was an adjudicator for various piano competitions, including the Van Cliburn Competition.

Full History: When the most versatile musicians in the history of American music are reckoned up, the name of Abram Chasins must surely find a very prominent place on the roster. He has excelled as composer, pianist, musicologist, author, pedagogue (in both the studio and the classroom), and media administrator.

Born in New York City, Mr. Chasins studied at The Juilliard School, the Curtis Institute, and Columbia University. His major teachers included such legendary musicians as Ernest Hutcheson and Josef Hofmann. From 1926 to 1935 he taught at Curtis, and for a decade beginning in 1935 he was an outstanding pianist throughout the world, appearing in solo recitals and with leading orchestras everywhere. Besides his solo engagements and recordings, he also played and recorded duo-piano works with his wife, the pianist Constance Keene.

But he became famous for many other aspects of his musical career as well. More than a hundred of his compositions have been published, performed, and
recorded. As fortune would have it, he made his professional debut playing the solo part in his own Piano Concerto No. 1 in F minor (1928) with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Ossip Gabilowitsch at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia and, later, Carnegie Hall in New York. He also played his second Piano Concerto, in F sharp minor, dating from 1931, with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Leopold Stokowski. He attained an international reputation in his early 20s as a protg of Josef Hofmann. Subsequently he became the first American composer of the younger generation to be performed by Arturo Toscanini; the great maestro chose his "Parade" and "Flirtation in a Chinese Garden" for a concert with the New York Philharmonic. Mr. Chasins retired from the concert stage in 1946 to devote himself entirely to the musical directorship of radio station WQXR, the radio network of The New York Times with which he had been affiliated since 1943. His tenure established a nation-wide standard for classical music programming which has never been surpassed.

"Speaking of Pianists" (Alfred Knopf: 1957) was Mr. Chasins's first published book; it has become an international source book. Other volumes from his hand, among them "The Van Cliburn Legend" (Doubleday: 1959), "The Appreciation of Music" (Crown: 1966), "Music at the Crossroads" (Macmillan: 1972), and "Leopold Stokowski, A Profile" (Hawthorne: 1979), also won wide attention.

As an adjudicator Mr. Chasins has served on jury panels for the Van Cliburn and National Federation of Music Clubs competitions, the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera auditions, the Chopin Prize, and the Rachmaninoff and Leventritt Formdation awards.

Mr. Chasins was invited to become Musician-in-Residence at the University of Southern California, a post created specially for him. In the course of his
stay he was honored by the City of Los Angeles for "distinguished service in transfonning USC's campus 'rock station' into a strong cultural force and a
nationally prominent broadcasting entity," Previously, as a juror for the Cliburn Competition, he had been named an "Honorary Citizen of the State of
Texas."

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Abram Chasins Collection covers the period from Circa 1904-1990; the bulk of the materials date from 1932-1985, and the collection is 28.00 Linear Feet. The collection consists of both personal and professional papers including published and unpublished scores, recordings, books, lecture notes, correspondence, photographs, artwork, address books, scrapbooks, subject files, articles, programs, and publicity materials related to Chasins work as a pianist, composer, radio broadcaster, lecturer, and writer, including his piano transcriptions and concertos, his broadcasts for radio stations NBC and WQXR, and his piano duets with his wife, Constance Keene.

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

This collection was donated by Chasins's widow, Constance Keene, in June 1988.

Processing Information

Processed by:

This collection was processed by Akiko Nakanishi., November 1994.

Processing note:

An item-level inventory of scores and recordings is available upon request.

Detailed Description of the Collection

Series 1: Music Manuscripts, 1931-1987, and Undated (2.00 Linear Feet)

This series contains music manuscripts that Chasins composed, including orchestral works, piano solos, works for two pianos, works for solo voice and piano, works arranged by other people, and miscellaneous music manuscripts. Materials are arranged alphabetically by title of piece.

Subseries 1.1: Orchestra, 1948, and Undated

This subseries contains sketches and unpublished scores of Chasins Period Suite. The scores are oversized and stored separately.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Item

Period Suite -- Sketches, Undated

series 1.1

box 1

folder 1

Oversized Scores, 1948, and Undated

series 1.1

box 35

folder 1

Period Suite--Score (handwritten), 1948

series 1.1

box 35

folder 1

item 1.0

Period Suite--Score (printed by Chappell & Co., New York) with handwritten
corrections; 1 page of typed notes on the work and first
performance, Undated

Subseries 1.7: Miscellaneous, Undated

This subseries contains miscellaneous manuscripts, including notes on works by other composers and fragments of Chasins compositions.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Miscellaneous Manuscripts, Undated

series 1.7

box 4

folder 5

Series 2: Published Scores, 1925-1969, and Undated (2.00 Linear Feet)

This series contains published scores by Chasins, including his orchestral works, piano solo works, pieces for two pianos with four hands, solo voice and piano pieces, and works arranged by other composers. Materials are arranged alphabetically by title of piece.

Subseries 2.1: Orchestra, Circa 1949

This subseries contains a published score of Chasins Period Suite.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Period Suite -- New York: Chappell & Co., Inc., 1949

series 2.1

box 5

folder 1

Subseries 2.2: Piano Solo, Circa 1925-Circa 1969

This subseries contains published scores of Chasins piano solo works, including the Three Chinese Pieces for Piano and a ballet work.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Piano Solo Pieces, 1925-1951

series 2.2

box 5

folder 2

Piano Solo Preludes, 1928-1969

series 2.2

box 5

folder 3

Subseries 2.3: Two Pianos, Four Hands, Circa 1934-1960, and Undated

This subseries contains published scores of Chasins works for two pianos, including fantasies, a ballet work, and his Period Suite.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Piano Four-Hands Fantasies, 1937-1960

series 2.3

box 6

folder 1

Piano Four-Hands Pieces -- M-R, 1934-1939, and Undated

series 2.3

box 6

folder 2

Subseries 2.4: Solo Voice and Piano, Circa 1930-Circa 1933

This subseries contains published scores of Chasins solo voice and piano works, including his Offering to Eros.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Offering to Eros -- Six Songs -- New York: J. Fischer & Bro., 1933

series 2.4

box 6

folder 3

Thou Art Mine -- High, E Minor -- New York: J. Fischer & Bro., 1930

series 2.4

box 6

folder 4

Subseries 2.5: Works Arranged by Other Persons, Circa 1928-Circa 1930

This subseries contains a published score of a Prelude in D Minor arranged by Michael Press for violin and piano.

Series 4: Writings, 1934-1988, and Undated (4.00 Linear Feet)

This series contains materials that Chasins has written, including his books, unpublished memoirs, radio scripts, and lecture notes. Materials are arranged by subject.

Subseries 4.1: Books, 1959-1982, and Undated

This subseries contains books that Chasins has written, including Music at the Crossroads, Speaking of Pianists, a profile of Leopold Stotowski, and the Van Cliburn Legend. Additional writings are found in the Scrapbooks and in the Subject Files. Materials in this subseries are arranged alphabetically by book title.

Subseries 4.2: Unpublished Memoirs, 1934-1988, and Undated

This subseries contains materials related to Chasins unpublished memoirs, including clippings, book reviews, notes, drafts, articles, letters, flyers, programs, manuscripts, and biographies. Folders numbered 1 through 26 contain material collected by A.C. to aid in writing his memoirs and are in the order in which he left them. It is contained in boxes 10, 11, and 12.

This subseries contains radio broadcasts concerning composers and piano pointers, as well as broadcasts on NBC and WQXR. Materials in this subseries are arranged chronologically by subject, except for the broadcasts concerning composers, which are arranged alphabetically by the composers last name.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Broadcasts Concerning Composers -- A-B, Undated

series 4.3

box 13

folder 1

Broadcasts Concerning Composers -- C-K, Undated

series 4.3

box 13

folder 2

Broadcasts Concerning Composers -- L-R, Undated

series 4.3

box 13

folder 3

Broadcasts Concerning Composers -- S-Z, Undated

series 4.3

box 14

folder 1

Piano Pointers Broadcasts, 1934-1935

series 4.3

box 14

folder 2

NBC Broadcasts, 1935-1939

series 4.3

box 14

folder 3

Other Broadcasts WQXR -- Including the 1st of 50th anniversary broadcast, 1986, and Undated

series 4.3

box 14

folder 4

Subseries 4.4: Lecture Notes, 1965, and Undated (0.75 Linear Feet)

This subseries contains notes for Chasins lectures, including his lectures on analysis, interpretation, ornamentation, the application of the scientific method to music, and 20th century music.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Item

Lecture Notes, 1965, and Undated

series 4.4

box 15

folder 1

Book 1, 1965, and Undated

series 4.4

box 15

folder 1

item 1.0

Book 2, Undated

series 4.4

box 15

folder 1

item 2.0

Book 3, Undated

series 4.4

box 15

folder 1

item 3.0

Index to Composers' Works, Undated

series 4.4

box 15

folder 2

Notecards for an Untitled Lecture, Undated

series 4.4

box 15

folder 3

Series 5: Performance Files, Undated (null)

This will be a chronological file of Chasins's performance programs, flyers, and reviews. However, most of these items are included in the Scrapbooks (see Series VI- Press Books).

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Performance Files, Undated

series 5

box 16

folder 1

Series 6: Scrapbooks, 1925-Circa 1972 (2.00 Linear Feet)

This series consists of six scrapbooks that were compiled by Chasins. The books contain programs and articles that relate to Chasins's career as a composer, performer, author and radio personality as well as his other activities. The material is arranged in chronological order generally.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Earliest Scrapbook, 1925-1935

series 6

box 17

folder 1

Miscellaneous -- Items about & by A.C., 1925-1946

series 6

box 18

folder 1

Scrapbook, 1935-1949

series 6

box 19

folder 1

Scrapbook, 1949-1957

series 6

box 20

folder 1

Scrapbook, 1957-1972

series 6

box 21

folder 1

Scrapbook, 1972-

series 6

box 22

folder 1

Series 7: Correspondence, Circa 1930-1988 (2.25 Linear Feet)

The correspondence includes personal letters written to Chasins as well as letters from corporate bodies (rather than individuals) from Circa 1930 to 1987. All correspondence is arranged alphabetically within each subseries. This series is located in boxes 11 through 13.

Subseries 7.2: Fan Letters, Circa 1930-1987

Subseries 7.3: Condolence Letters, Circa 1930-1987

This subseries contains condolence letters received by Constance Keene after Chasins death.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Condolence Letters -- A, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 2

Condolence Letters -- B-Be, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 3

Condolence Letters -- Bi-Bu, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 4

Condolence Letters -- C, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 5

Condolence Letters -- D-E, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 6

Condolence Letters -- F, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 7

Condolence Letters -- G, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 8

Condolence Letters -- H-J, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 9

Condolence Letters -- K, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 10

Condolence Letters -- L, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 11

Condolence Letters -- M, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 12

Condolence Letters -- N-O, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 13

Condolence Letters -- P-Pe, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 14

Condolence Letters -- Ph-Q, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 15

Condolence Letters -- R, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 16

Condolence Letters -- S-Sh, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 17

Condolence Letters -- Si-St, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 18

Condolence Letters -- T-V, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 19

Condolence Letters -- W-Z, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 20

Unidentified Condolence Letters, Undated

series 7.3

box 25

folder 21

Subseries 7.4: Tribute Letters, Circa 1988

This subseries contains letters received after the tribute for Chasins (New York City, March 1988).

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Tribute Letters -- A-L, Undated

series 7.4

box 25

folder 22

Tribute Letters -- M-Z, Undated

series 7.4

box 25

folder 23

Subseries 7.5: Letters to Constance Keene, Circa 1930-1987

This subseries contains letters from Chasins to Constance Keene, and letters to Keene before Chasins death.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Letters to Constance Keene, Undated

series 7.5

box 25

folder 24

Series 8: Subject Files, 1927-1990, and Undated (3.00 Linear Feet)

The subject files generally retain the same names that Chasins gave them. There are multiple copies of the material in the "Chasins" files (there are five of them). The same material may be in more than one file. The "John Sweeney" file contains information regarding a music publishing and sales enterprise that Chasins, Keene and Sweeney tried to establish. There are letters concerning publishing rights and legal matters, closely related to the materials in the "Copyright" and "Contract" files. All files in this series are arranged alphabetically, and are contained in boxes 14 through 17.

This series contains photographs, drawings, and paintings of Chasins, including formal portraits of Casins, photographs of Chasins with family, friends, colleagues, and others. It also contains candid snapshots of Chasins, photographs related to his musical career and travels, and other miscellaneous photographs and artwork. Materials are arranged chronologically by date.

This subseries contains formal portraits of Chasins, including photographs, drawings, and paintings.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Photographs, Circa 1904-Circa 1984

series 9.1

box 30

folder 1

Painting by Charles M. Mount, Undated

series 9.1

box 30

folder 2

Charcoal by Charles M. Mount, Undated

series 9.1

box 30

folder 3

Drawings by William Hochstein, Undated

series 9.1

box 30

folder 4

Drawings, Various, Undated

series 9.1

box 30

folder 5

Subseries 9.2: Professional Life, 1948-1984, and Undated

This subseries contains photographs related to Chasins career, including photographs of Chasins at the piano, at WQXR, and at various career-related competitions and celebrations.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

A.C. at the Piano, Undated

series 9.2

box 30

folder 6

A.C.'s hands on the keyboard, Undated

series 9.2

box 30

folder 7

A.C. at WQXR, Undated

series 9.2

box 30

folder 8

Miscellaneous Activities, 1948-1984

series 9.2

box 30

folder 9

Subseries 9.3: Family, Undated

This subseries contains photographs of Chasins with his family, including his wife, Constance Keene, photographs with his other family members, and photographs with Keenes family. Materials in this subseries are arranged by subject.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

A.C. with Constance Keene, Undated

series 9.3

box 30

folder 10

Constance Keene, Undated

series 9.3

box 30

folder 11

Chasins Family, Undated

series 9.3

box 30

folder 12

Constance Keene's Family, Undated

series 9.3

box 30

folder 13

Subseries 9.4: Friends & Colleagues, Undated (0.75 Linear Feet)

This subseries contains photographs of Chasins with friends and colleagues, including Van Cliburn, Josef Hofmann, Leopold Stotowski, Elissa Landi, and others. Materials in this subseries are arranged alphabetically.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

With Individuals -- A-Ca, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 1

With Individuals -- Van Cliburn, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 2

With Individuals -- Copland, Aaron, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 3

With Individuals -- Gershwin, George, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 4

With Individuals -- Hofmann, Josef, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 5

With Individuals -- Ho-Jo, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 6

With Individuals -- Landi, Elissa, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 7

With Individuals -- Law, Elizabeth McCormack, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 8

With Individuals -- Le-P, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 9

With Individuals -- Reisenberg, Nadia, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 10

With Individuals -- Rubenstein, Artur, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 11

With Individuals -- Sayao, Bidu, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 12

With Individuals -- Schonberg, Harold, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 13

With Individuals -- Sheinwald, Pat, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 14

With Individuals -- Steinberg, William, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 15

With Individuals -- Stokowski, Leopold, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 16

With Individuals -- Stokowski, Leopold -- Making of Fantasia, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 17

With Individuals -- Taylor, Deems, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 18

With Individuals -- Te-V, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 19

With Miscellaneous Individuals/Groups, Undated

series 9.4

box 31

folder 20

Subseries 9.5: Candid Snapshots, Circa 1925-1980s

This subseries contains candid snapshots of Chasins, including snapshots of his 80th birthday party and with his pets.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Candid Snapshots, Circa 1925-1959

series 9.5

box 32

folder 1

Candid Snapshots, 1960s

series 9.5

box 32

folder 2

Candid Snapshots, 1970s

series 9.5

box 32

folder 3

Candid Snapshots, 1980s

series 9.5

box 32

folder 4

A.C. 80th Birthday Party, 1983

series 9.5

box 32

folder 5

A.C. with Pets, Undated

series 9.5

box 32

folder 6

Subseries 9.6: Travel, 1960-1974, and Undated

This subseries contains snapshots related to Chasins travels, including his visits to Athens, Egypt, Israel, Hong Kong, and other places.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Athens, 1960

series 9.6

box 32

folder 7

Israel, 1960

series 9.6

box 32

folder 8

Jamaica, 1966

series 9.6

box 32

folder 9

Egypt, 1972

series 9.6

box 32

folder 10

Hong Kong, 1974

series 9.6

box 32

folder 11

Cruises, Undated

series 9.6

box 32

folder 12

"On the Water", Undated

series 9.6

box 32

folder 13

Miscellaneous, Undated

series 9.6

box 32

folder 14

Subseries 9.7: Miscellaneous, Undated

This subseries contains miscellaneous photographs and artwork of others related to Chasins life, including a photograph of Josef Hofmann and Leopold Stotowski and drawings by Hendrick Wilhelm Van Loon and Charles M. Mount. Materials in this subseries are arranged by subject.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Mary Bok's 40th Birthday Party, Undated

series 9.7

box 32

folder 15

Hendrick Willem Van Loon Drawings, Undated

series 9.7

box 32

folder 16

Charles M. Mount -- Drawings, Undated

series 9.7

box 32

folder 17

Series 10: Miscellaneous, 1913-1987, and Undated (2.00 Linear Feet)

This series contains miscellaneous materials related to Chasins life, including oversized materials, address and appointment books, awards and honors, and books that mention Chasins. Materials are arranged by subject.

County of Los Angeles, Resolution " ... on his retirement from KUSC ... ", (Framed, Oversized, on Shelf)., Undated

series 10.3

box 33

folder 6

item 9.0

University of Southern California Music School, "Salute. In recognition ... " (Framed), 1984

series 10.3

box 33

folder 6

item 10.0

Subseries 10.4: Books Referring to Chasins, 1929-1972

This subseries includes books that mention Chasins, including Americas Taste,
Before the Deluge, Music at Midnight, and Gershwins. Materials in this subseries are arranged alphabetically by book title.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Item

Books Referring to Chasins, 1929-1973

series 10.4

box 33

folder 7

America's Taste 1851-1959: the cultural events of a century reported by
contemporary observers in the pages of the New York Times I Marjorie
Longley, Louis Silverstein and Samuel A. Tower. New York: Simon and
Schuster (Articles by A.C.?), 1960

series 10.4

box 33

folder 7

item 1.0

Before the Deluge : a portrait of Berlin in the 1920s I Otto Friedrich.
New York: Harper & Row. (A.C. quoted on pages 12 and 319-20), 1972